During World War II, Great Britain and its commonwealth Armies used a vast number of small sized, fully tracked weapons carriers, while the American and German forces relied mainly on half-tracks and wheeled transport. Development of these fully tracked carriers dates back to 1925 when Major (later Lieutenant-General Sir Gifford) Martel constructed a one-man "tankette" to interest the British War Purchasing Office. Since then, variations consisted of machine gun carrier, mortar carrier, light gun tractor etc. These weapons were built by several firms, and although built for specific purposes, they did serve in the early days of the conflict. Experiences at the front however, showed a need for a multi-purpose vehicle, capable of a wide range of tasks. Thus the Universal Carrier Mk. I, and the improved Mk. II came into being about 1940. The Universal Carrier had an open top crew compartment on each side of the engine compartment, and a lightly armored superstructure. The Ford V-8 cylinder engine put out 85 brake horsepower and provided a 48km/h of top speed. Armament and stowage were varied according to its mission, but most typically, it carried a Czech designed .303 inch Bren light machine gun (modified and manufactured by Enfield), plus some other small arms. With its high mobility and adaptability, the Universal Carrier proved satisfactory throughout the conflict, from the African desert to the European campaign.
Shipping & Delivery
Access Models offers efficient delivery services within the UK and overseas, aiming to dispatch orders within 48 hours of receipt, contingent on payment confirmation. Standard UK deliveries are conducted via Royal Mail, typically arriving within 2-3 days, though customers are advised to allow up to 5 days. For expedited deliveries, the express service ensures next-day delivery for orders placed before 1pm, with specific provisions for orders placed over the weekend or on bank holidays.
Shipping charges vary based on the order value and destination. UK standard shipping costs range from £4.99 to £7.99, with additional surcharges for heavy items and non-mainland UK destinations, including specific regions like Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Guernsey, and Jersey. We do not ship to PO Boxes and BFPO addresses.
For heavy, bulky, or restricted items such as large model kits and items containing hazardous materials, special shipping considerations apply. International shipping starts at £18, with varying costs and delivery times based on destination zones. Access Models does not ship to certain countries including Spain, USA, and Australia.
Customers may encounter customs fees on international orders, which are not included in our shipping costs and are the responsibility of the customer. In case of postal losses or damage, claims may take up to 30 days to process, and we require customer confirmation to initiate this process.
Returns are accepted within 14 days for change of mind and 30 days for faulty items, in line with the EU Distance Selling Directive. Access Models offers repair, exchange, or refund for eligible returns, excluding faults due to misuse or wear and tear. Customers are responsible for return postage costs, except in cases of damage or fault. Refunds are issued in accordance with the returns policy, excluding opened packages unless they are faulty.
